Pesach Series 1: The "P" Word!
Prep & Panic
Welcome to MefarshAI, your weekly exploration at the intersection of Torah, tradition, and artificial intelligence. This week, we're starting our Pesach series by addressing the crumb in the room…
Shoutout to my incredible wife, Talya (not whom the above meme is based…), who gives me the love, strength, and support to keep putting out these things. B”H, the opportunity to learn Torah in new ways and share with others will hopefully demystify not only AI but also the speed of emerging technology and how it can massively and positively affect our world.
"The P Word"— Pesach Panic that follows Purim
As Purim concludes, many begin to feel the mounting pressure of Pesach preparations. The meticulous cleaning, the search for chametz, and the desire to uphold traditions can lead to significant stress.
Historical Insights with AI
To understand how rabbis have historically addressed this anxiety, we employed advanced AI tools to analyze centuries of Sheilot & Teshuvot (questions and answers between communities and their rabbis). This approach allowed us to uncover timeless insights into managing familial anxiety, emotional strain, and communal stress during this profound time of year.
Our AI-Driven Process
Defining the Scope:
We focused on responsa from Orthodox rabbinic authorities (17th century onward) discussing emotional, familial, or communal pressures related to Pesach, prioritizing Ashkenazi sources but including others.
Developing a Research Strategy:
We identified key rabbinic figures and relevant repositories, such as YUTorah.org, HebrewBooks.org, Responsa.co.il, Etzion.org.il, and Sefaria.org.
Conducting Deep Analysis:
We performed a comprehensive search across these repositories, collecting responsa addressing Pesach pressures and summarizing key findings in clear, structured notes.
Notable Findings
Rav Steinman's Advice: Emphasized moderation in cleaning practices to reduce stress.
Rav Uziel's Wartime Ruling: Permitted kitniyot during food shortages, highlighting flexibility in halachic decisions during crises.
Challenges and Considerations
Contextual Understanding: Responsa texts often require deep contextual knowledge; iterative analysis was essential for accuracy.
Language Nuances: While AI tools are proficient in translation, clarifications were sometimes needed for idiomatic Hebrew and rabbinic terminology.
We encourage readers interested in AI's role in Torah scholarship to experiment with prompt design and iterative refinement. The possibilities for deeper engagement with tradition through AI are continually expanding.
Wishing you a meaningful and stress-free Pesach season.
~Dave